A Bronson Bodine Moment . . .

Antarctica
Wikipedia

Carter Kaplan offers another episode, "Cold Echoes" (Emanations 2 + 2 = 5, pp. 324-362), in the continuing saga of Bronson Bodine. In the following lines on page 330, Bronson re-encounters - in Antarctica, of all places - the flamboyant pirate Captain Amber, whom he has recently fought side-by-side with against a common foe . . . but Amber is in a nasty mood:

"It is very good to see you again, Captain Amber," said Bronson Bodine. Beside him, Nabnak nodded sympathetically.

"Ar!" growled Amber. His eyes shook in their sockets. On the table beside him was a large meat cleaver he had been using to cut bandages. He snatched it up and hurled it at Bronson.

Bronson caught it easily with a curving motion that was as subtle as it was disarming. He hefted the cleaver significantly, eyed Amber closely, and then casually set the weapon on a table.

I thought the "subtle" way in which Bronson is described as catching the cleaver is well done. The word "disarming" is also nicely handled, for it cleaves into two different meanings.